Recent Gifts of Hope

 

I am trying to keep myself updated on where the quilts are going...it's a bit hard because my mom is "Central Command" in Grand Rapids and I am in Toronto trying to crank quilt tops out before baby #4 arrives in less than a month! Thankfully, my mom is a meticulous list maker-I know I chose her for my partner for a reason! So here are our recent gifts of hope.
We sent a quilt to Nigeria (our furthest destination so far!) for Megan, whose mom was diagnosed with brain cancer about a month ago. Megan and her husband are missionaries in Nigeria. Her mom lives in Iowa. For two years I lived far, far away from my parents and I was always scared that something terrible would happen to them and I would be have to choose to care for my husband and kids or my parents....we are praying for their family, specifically for healing (number 1) and wisdom to know when it is time to travel "home". We also sent a quilt to Megan's mom, Cella. Actually, they are matching quilts, just like the one pictured above.
We gave three more quilts to Safe Haven Ministries for families that are being served there.
Finally, two more quilts were given to Children's Assessment Center. My mom was supposed to go on a tour there last month but because of the heavy rain, thier office was flooded. I'm sure that caused a bit of discouragement. They provide a very important service to our community.
So, the total number of quilts we have gifted is up to 38! I really, really want to make it to 50 before the new year (we have MANY quilts finished and ready to go) so I need referrals!!! Please don't hesitate to e-mail me with an individual or family that could use HOPE! margaretshopechest@yahoo.com

West Michigan Quilt Show

 

 

 

Just wanted to let you see the quilt that Margaret's Hope Chest had displayed at the area quilt show this weekend. It was made from donated material, pieced by myself, quilted by Phyllis Myers of 'Quilts Completed' and bound by my mom. I LOVE it, I think the quilting by Phyllis makes this quilt so cool. She did a great job. We haven't decided what to do with this quilt but we have discussed donating it to Silent Observer of Greater Grand Rapids who helped our family after my grandma's murder-as I understand it, they have auctions every once and a while to raise money....we'll see. The other quilt is one that I entered personally. I made it for our best friends last year. Enjoy!

Quilting Kits Now Available

 

I have 9 kit quilts now available for volunteers to piece. If you have ever thought of helping us THIS is the kit for you-it is sooo....easy and quick-and downright attractive too! All of the fabric you need is cut, labeled and ready to piece. A great use of 2 hours!

Join the FUN!

 

We are trying something new here at Margaret's Hope Chest and I wanted to invite our entire blog audience to join us. Starting in October, Margaret's Hope Chest's VIRTUAL QUILTING BEE will be leading virtual volunteers through one quilt pattern a month. The quilt pictured here is our first quilt. I will be providing COMPLETE PICTORAL INSTRUCTIONS for each quilt. Even people who have no idea how to quilt can follow the instructions and make these quilts. I have set up a brand new blog for the Virtual Quilting Bee- www.mhcvirtualquiltingbee.blogspot.com. Click on the link on the sidebar to visit, and consider joining us!

Just When You Least Expect It.....

There is a song that I hear each day on the Christian radio station that I listen to and here are the first few lines of the lyrics...

"You do your work the best that you can
you put one foot in front of the other
life comes in waves and makes *its* demands
you hold on as well as *you're* able
You've been here for a long long time
Hope has a way of turning *its* face to you
just when you least expect it."

It's called 'It might be HOPE' by Sara Groves and it describes our work at Margaret's Hope Chest for the last year and a half. We work hard and it seems like it will take a FOREVER to get this whole thing off of the ground, and then just when we least expect it.....

Even though we are in the business of sharing hope with others, we still are in need of some ourselves from time to time. Praise God we received some HOPE yesterday just when we least expected it. This story could get long and complicated so I will simplify as much as possible. There is a writer at the GR Press Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood, who has a craft column and blog and a few weeks ago she was preparing a for a community quilting bee. I wrote her an e-mail, offered my mother's attendance at the bee (your welcome mom!), and watched to see how everything unfolded. You can read what happened when you click on the link in the side bar.
Anyway, there was a woman there named Sally, she went home and read our website and blog. She liked what we are doing and thought she could help. Fast forward to the second quilting event last night that, once again, my mother attended (she IS a saint). She met Sally in the parking lot and Sally gave her 5 TOTALLY COMPLETED QUILTS and 2 boxes of fabric. HOPE-right there. People DO care, they think that what we are doing IS important. They want to support us. My mom and I really needed that. This was the first time in our short history that anyone has donated completed quilts. Cool.

The quilt top pictured below was finished and sent off this week to Well of Grace in St. Joseph Michigan. This is a special place where young ladies who are suffering from depression, eating disorders and other difficulties are living and recieving the help and hope they need. This is the second quilt we have sent them. We heard they are using them in the living room/TV area-hey I like a quilt to snuggle under when I watch TV too!

 

Quilts for Oliver and Waverly

 

 

These two monkey quilts are for Waverly and Oliver, brother and sister who also share a rare genetic disease. I have added a link on the side to thier mother's blog which is called 'Exploring Holland'. Even though the quilts are for the kids, Mom and Dad need some hope for the future as they navigate this awful disease.

This one is for Baby I

 

We just delivered this quilt to Baby I. Sorry this picture was taken before it was finished off-I guess I forgot to take a photo after it was finished-oops! Baby I has a severe cleft palate and lip which will need lots of attention and patience over the next months and years. I grew up with his mom-Kim. Her and her husband have now adopted 9 children from all over the world-Baby I just arriving home with them last week! They truly have a heart for orphans and are doing their best to show God's love to them. If you click on His Hands-His Feet on the sidebar, you will be taken to their blog-quite interesting. You can scroll down a bit and see a picture of Baby I snuggled in his quilt-so sweet!